Despite widespread reports that U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) would not be in Madison Tuesday for President Obama’s visit, the Wisconsin Democrat was able to make it back in time.
Feingold was expected to miss the rally on the UW-Madison campus due to votes going on in the Senate Tuesday. However, Feingold indicated late that afternoon through twitter that he was done voting and would make it back after all.
Feingold skipped the President’s last visit to Wisconsin, a Labor Day rally in Milwaukee, in order to attend an event in Janesville. In Madison, he blasted Republicans who have said the Senator is trying to distance himself from an unpopular president as he fights for re-election, calling that “a crock.”
Feingold is running for re-election against Republican Ron Johnson. He told those attending the UW-Madison rally that it will be a tough battle and he expects to be outspent by his opponent. He blamed that partially on the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case, which opened the door to corporate spending on campaign advertising.
However, Feingold says his campaign will not be “out organized” and his Senate seat can’t be bought, “it must be earned.”